Sofa bed



M. GURSKY Dc. s. 1953 SOFA BED 3 Sheets-Sheei 1 Filed April 24, 1952INVENTOR f5? GUKs/(Y BY M. GURSKY Dec. 8, 1953 SOFA BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed April 24, 1952 IN V EN TOR. #752152 G02 5K) M. GURSKY Dec 8, 1953SOFA BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 24, 1952 "JAAMAAAMAAMNARQANMAAAAMAN JNVENTOR. MEYEQ GuRs/(Y Patents es. 8, 1953SOFA BED Meyer Gursky, New York, N. Y., assignor to Automatic BeddingCorporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application April 24, 1952, Serial No. 284,058

5 Claims.

This invention relates to articles of furniture which form sofas and thelike when in closed position, and open out to form beds, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved sofa-bedconstruction in which a well chamber is formed in the sofa to receivethe foldable mattress supporting frame together with the mattress, thearrangement being such that when the foldable portions are inside thewell chamber, the whole unit has the outward aspects and utility of asofa or love-seat type sofa. When, however, the foldable parts areextended out of the well chamber, then the whole unit has the outwardaspects and utility of a full size double bed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedsofa-bed construction in which there is a main frame forming a cradleinside the seat well of the sofa, and an extensible foldable frame whichis formed with a plurality of pivoted linkage members so as to open outto provide a spring frame or platform to support a mattress, themattress folding with the extensible foldable frame to about one-thirdof the extended mattress length, for easy retraction inside the seatwell.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedsofa-bed construction in which the two sides of the sofa, together withthe back and front lower walls of the sofa define a seat well which isupwardly open, with a foldable mattress support frame with mattressretractable in folded position inside the seat well, the constructionbeing such that the upper portion of the seat back wall is automaticallymoved upwards upon extension of the foldable mattress support frame andits mattress, so that there is clearance space under the upraised upperportion or" the seat back, providing room for the feet of the occupantof the bed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedsofa-bed construction of the character described, in which, since theupper seat back wall is elevated upon extension of the mattress supportframe and mattress, added length is gained without need for making thehorizontal depth of the sofa itself excessive.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved sofa-bed construction which is simple in design, inexpensive tomanufacture, very compact, and highly effective for its intendedpurposes.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a parthereof, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing the sofabed with its bed portionfully retracted, one of the seat cushions being shown removed forillustrative purposes only;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view showing the frame portionsof the sofa bed illustrated in Figure 1, apart from the upholsteredportions, the latter being indicated in dot-dash lines, the frameportions being shown in fully retracted positions corresponding to thesofa of Figure 1, and omitting the mattress from the View;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to that of Figure 2, showing someof the linkage members only, and illustrating an initial movement of thelinkage members toward extended bed positions;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to that of Figures 2 and 3, butshowing a further extension of the parts, the sofa back being indicatedalso in elevated position;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View similar to that of Figures 2, 3 and 4,but showing the frame members in a further stage of extension, andindieating in dotted lines toward the left of the view, a still furtherstage of extension, and at the extreme left the final stage of fullextension;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary right end elevational view showing the mainelements of the back of the sofa, in lowered or retracted position,corresponding to Figures 1 and 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to that of Figure 6, except showingthe frame members of the back in elevated or extended positions,corresponding to Figure 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 8-8 of Figure 6 (in lower position).

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that of Figure 8, butshowing the parts with the back of the sofa in elevated position,corresponding to Figure 5;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view as seen along the line Iii-4t ofFigure 2;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline ll-H of Figure 2 Figure 12 is a perspective detail view in fragmentof the middle portion of the parts shown in Figure 9;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective detail view takensubstantially on the line lE-l 3 of Figure 3;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective detail View of the lowerleft end portion of Figure '7, as seen along the line 15-2 of said view;and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing the sofabed of Figure 1, in fullyopened out and extended position ready for use as a bed.

In the construction of articles of furniture in the nature of sofa-bedsand the like, the normal outward appearance is that of an ordinaryupholstered sofa when all the parts are in fully retracted positions.When opened out, however, they form a full size bed, and the entirefoldable assembly, including the mattress, is extended out from withinthe confines of the contours of the sofa itself. As a result, the utmostcompactness is needed in the construction of the foldable and extensibleportions of the sofa-bed, and yet it is additionally required that thedimensions of the sofa portion thereof be kept within reasonableconfines.

It has been heretofore found necessary, in order to accommodate a fullsized length mattress which must be folded in thirds, to make thehorizontal depth of the sofa somewhat sizable, more so than the usualsofa which is not convertible to a bed. The present invention providessofa-bed construction in which novel means is provided so that a fullsize length mattress may be folded in thirds, and yet the horizontaldepth of the sofa may remain substantially less than would otherwise beexpected. There is adequate foot room for the occupant of the sofa-bedwhen the mattress is extended outwardly.

In order to understand clearly the nature of the invention and the bestmeans for carrying it out, reference may now be had to the drawings, inwhich like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views.

As seen in Figures 1 and 15, there is a sofabed generally indicated at25}, and including a pair of upholstered side walls 222 and 26, securedtogether in upright spaced. relationship by front wall as and rear lowerwall 28, to define an upwardly open sofa seat well or chamber 3%. The

assembly may have feet, not shown, for engage a ment with the floor of aroom in which the sofabed is placed, with rufiies or valances 32extending over the same to conceal them from view, or of course, therufiies 32 may be omitted, in which case the feet may become outwardlyvisible.

The side walls 22 and 2 3 may be smoothly upholstered and rounded of"somewhat, as at 3 in any suitable manner, depending upon the decor ordesign of the article of furniture itself. The sofa-bed is provided withan upper back wall member 36, which is movable between the upperextended position shown in Figures 5 and 15, at 36a, and the lower orretracted position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 8 at 3%.

Referring now to Figure 2, it is seen that there is a pair ofsubstantially L-shaped main frame members 38 having a horizontal leg illintegral with an upright leg 42, there being one such main frame member3d at the inner wall portion of each of the end wall members 22 and 2Gand secured thereto and hence relatively stationary. At the upper endsE4 of the main frame members 38, there are hinged or pivotally attachedlevers 48 by means of pivot pins 48, so that the levers 56 are movablebetween the positions shown in Figure 2 which is the retracted position,to the positions shown in Figure 5, which is the fully extendedposition.

Lever arms 5!] are secured at one end by means of pivot pins 52 to theother end of the arms M5, for movement between retracted verticalpositions shown in Figure 2, and extended horizontal positions shown inFigure 5. A pair of angle struts 54 are secured by pins ES to anintermediate location on the arms t6, and at their other ends by pins 58to the other ends of the arms 50 as shown. A pair of arms 58 is hingedat pin 58 to the intersection of the arms 50 and 5 5, and is pivoted atits other end 62 to a pair of extension arms 64, which in turn arehinged at their outer ends 65 to extensions in, which in turn havehinged thereto at pin 12, the end matress confining or foot board member'14, the latter being biased by the tension spring 16 secured to anouter portion of member 14 and the pivot pins 12.

Angle struts '18 are secured pivotally at one end to pivot pins 83engaging members 64, and have pins 82 on their other ends slidablyengaging guide slots 8t formed in members 56, to limit the motion of theangle struts l8 between the two positions shown. When in the positionsshown in full lilies in Figures 2, 4 and 5, the pins 82 are against theright hand ends of the slots, whereas when in the fully extendedposition shown at the left of Figure 5, the pins 82 are against the leftends of the slots.

It is also seen that the legs 83 are pivoted at i 99 to lugs 92 which inturn are secured to the angle irons Bil to allow the legs 88 to swingalong the angle are indicated at 54 in Figure 4, a suitable roller orwheel 96 being carried by the lower end of the legs as for engaging thefloor 98 when in the position of Figure 5. A push arm ice is pinned atE82 to an intermediate portion of the legs 88, and is pinned at Hi l toan end portion of the arm E96, the latter arm being somewhat L- shapedas shown, with its other leg i313 pinned by pivot Hi] to the stationarymain frame member d0. A handle extension H2 forms part of one end of themember 105, and extends when in retracted position inside the passage[is shown in detail in Figure 1'5, and formed between upright pushmember H6, and the flange member H8 carried thereby and portions ofwhich are spaced therefrom in the manner of Figure 13 to define thepassage M, a pin lZH interconnecting the members i it and I 3 at theirlower ends as shown, to confine the handle portion H2 of the levermember 55, when in the retracted position shown in the views.

A tension spring I22 is connected at one end [2 3 to lever E03, and atits other end 126 to the main frame member it, tending to bias themembers toward retracted position when extended. Additional lever armsare shown at we I39 and 132, with pivotal linkage as shown, and as seenbest in Figure 5, there are also linkage levers i3 1 and 136 pivotedtogether at 33, for facilitating the extension of the members in themanner of Figure 5, and the retraction thereof as needed. Rollers iii}are carried at one end of the levers I36 to facilitate their movement.As seen in Figures 1 and 2, and in Figure 4, there is a pull loop 5 30.which is carried by the cross rail M2 or the web-like mattress springltd, for pulling outwardly by the user of the sofa-bed, on an angle ofabout 45 degrees upwardly, when the parts are in the position shownFigure 2, to elevate the same out of the seat well 30, from the positionshown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3, and then in Figure 4, andultimately in Figure 5. The result is to tilt the rocker arms 46, fromthe positions of Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3, wherein thefoldable assembly is elevated somewhat out of the well, and thence tothe position of Figure 4, and ultimately to that of Figure 5.

As mentioned hereinabove, I provide a sofa back member 36, which isarranged for vertical movement. Thus, the sofa back frame includes apair of upright walls Hit and :52, as seen in Figures 6 and 7,-interconnected by top and bottom frame members its and IE6, and coveredwith suitable upholstery and padding. An angle iron member 558 issecured to the frame member 154 for movement therewith, and has a slot169 formed therein as shown, to receive a pin I62 carried on the end ofthe strut member I64.

The lower end I66 of the strut member I64 is pivotally secured by pinI60 to lower relatively stationary angle iron member I10, which issecured to the lower stationary back frame member 28. The strut memberI12 has its upper end pivoted at I14 to the angle iron member I58, andhas its lower end carrying a pin I16 which is slidable in slot I80formed in lower angle iron member I10. Springs I82 and I84 are securedat one end to the pins I62 and I16 respectively, and at their other endsto intermediate portions I86 and I88 of the angle iron members I58 andI10, so as to bias the strut members I12 and I64 toward open position,the struts being pinned pivotally together at I90. As a result, thesprings, which are of proper predetermined strength, tend to cause themovement of the parts from the position shown in Figure 6 to that shownin Figure 7, to elevate the sofa back wall 36 from the position ofFigure 8 to that of Figure 9. The push rod member H6 is secured at itsupper portion by pins or screws 200, to the wall I52 of the verticallymovable seat back 36 for movement therewith.

Hence, when the pull cord I40 is pulled upon removal of the cushions2I0, and the various parts move to extended positions, the end II2 ofthe lever which extends inside the passage I I4 in Figure 13 movesupwardly to its broken line position IIZa, carrying with it upwardly themember II 6, and tending to start the upward movement of the members I64and I12 and the seat back 36 carried thereby, to upraised position shownin Figure 9.

To facilitate the upward and downward motion of the seat back 36, Iprovide rollers 2I2, as seen in Figures 8, 9 and 12, which are carriedby and movable with the frame members I50 of the back frame assembly 36,and also rollers 2I4 which are secured to the stationary frame members2I6 as shown. As a result, the rollers act as guides and make for smoothmovement to minimize friction in the movement vertically.

From Figures 8, 9 and 15, it is seen that upon movement of the foldableframe out of the seat well, the member II 2 kicks upwards on member II6,starting the upward motion of the seat back 36 under the influence ofthe springs I82 and I84, so that there is clearance under the lower edge230 of the seat back as seen in Figures 7, and 9, as compared with theexistence of no clearance therebelow in the arrangement of Figures 2, land 6. Hence there is room under the upraised seat back 36 for the feetof the occupant of the bed as seen in Figure 15, and also for the footend of the mattress 232. Hence, the mattress which is folded in thirds,approximately when in retracted positions as shown in Figure 2, insidethe seat well 30, is allowed to extend all the way substantially towardthe right as seen in Figure 2, under the seat back 36, which is raisedon extension, to allow the feet of the occupant to extend under the seatback 36. As a result, it is seen that the horizontal depth of the sofaside walls 22 and 24 may be made smaller than heretofore, while yetemploying a full length mattress.

Although I have described my invention in specific terms, it will beunderstood that various changes may be made in size, shape, materialsand arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

I claim:

1. Sofa bed construction comprising a frame defining a well, foldablemattress support means compactly retractable into said well, andextensible therefrom into horizontal position of the upper portionthereof to support a mattress thereon, said frame including a back lowerwall which is stationary, back support means carried by said back lowerwall and constructed and arranged for pivoting between lower and upperpositions, and back means carried by said back support means formovement with an upper portion thereof, whereby, upon actuation of saidback support means, said back means is moved vertically upward to upperposition, at which time space exists therebelow for the feet of theoccupant; said back support means comprising a pair of first and secondmutually intersecting arms pinned together intermediate their ends, oneend of said first arm being pinned to said back lower wall and the otherend of which is slidably engaging said back means, and wherein one endof said second arm is pinned to said back means and the other end ofwhich is slidably engaged to said back lower wall, and resilient biasingmeans engaging said intersecting arms, and acting thereon to bias thesame so that said back means tends to move toward upper position.

2. The construction according to claim 1, wherein said back meanscarries guide post kick means secured thereto and extending downwardlytherefrom for movement therewith, and wherein said foldable mattresssupport means comprises a kick handle means which engages said guidepost kick means when said back means is in lower position and saidfoldable mattress support means is in retracted position, andconstructed and arranged so that when said foldable mattress support isactuated to expand to extended position, said kick handle kicks saidguide post kick means in an upward direction, actuating said resilientbiasing means to take over and move said back means to upper position.

3. The construction according to claim 2, wherein said guide post kickmeans comprises a wall member carried thereby and spaced therefrom todefine a passage therebetween, to receive said kick handle, whereby,when in engagement, vertical motion of said kick handle in said passageactuates said guide post kick means and hence said back means into saidmovement.

4. The construction according to claim 2, wherein said back means andsaid back lower wall have slots formed therein, and said arms slidablyengage said slots for movement therealong.

5. The construction according to claim 2, wherein said back means andsaid back lower wall have slots formed therein, and said arms have pinscarried on those ends thereof which are slidably engaged therewith, saidpins extending into said slots and arranged for movement therealong, andwherein said resilient means comprises at least one resilient tensionspring acting between said pins and a stationary portion of said slotforming members, tending to bias said arms toward their positions ofgreatest extension.

MEYER GURSKY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 637,670 Sanor Nov. 21, 1899 1,420,894 Usievich June 27, 19221,519,667 Coopersmith Dec. 16, 1924 2,485,219 Shumsky Oct. 18, 1949

